How can we help you today?

VNC - Remote access and control of your Linux Desktop Environment

Modified on: Tue, 8 Nov, 2016 at 2:58 PM

Note: 9/2014 - Due to the new version of Ubuntu (14.04) on our gateway machines and servers, you may need to update a file so that your vnc desktop will appear properly. If you have a problem viewing your desktop: 1) Kill your vncserver process, 2) In your ssh terminal window, remove the following file: ./vnc/xstartup (i.e. rm ~/.vnc/xstartup) 3) Restart the vncserver.

What is VNC?

VNC stands for "Virtual Network Computing" and is a type of "remote desktop" software. VNC lets you access to a Linux desktop running on a Math server in a window. This desktop is called a "VNC server." It will run until it is killed. You connect to or "view" your personal virtual desktop from a "VNC client". You can disconnect and the desktop will continue to run. You need "VNC client" software on your Mac OS X, Windows, Linux machine or tablet to use this service. (See www.realvnc.com and at www.tightvnc.com for VNC clients.)

If you are connecting from a linux computer, the vncviewer program should be pre-installed.

2.3 Connect the VNC viewer to the VNC server

Now you will connect to the remote VNC desktop you setup in step 1.

Launch the viewer (e.g. tightvnc.) For the host connection, use:

hostname.math.arizona.edu:59xx

Where "hostname"is the server you ssh'ed to and xxis the VNC number that displayed when you setup your VNC Service.

If you are connecting from a linux computer, VNC can be launched from the command line with the following command:

vncviewer hostname.math.arizona.edu:59xx

You will also be asked for the VNC password you created at that time. If you forgot the password you canreset it.

3. Disconnect from your VNC session

To disconnect from (i.e., stop viewing) your remote desktop, simply close the viewer (the outermost window).

There is no need to close individual windows inside your virtual desktop, nor is there a need to log out of the Gnome session inside your virtual desktop. (In fact, if you accidentally do this, then you mustkill your remote desktopandcreate a new one.)